Oregon Sport Bike RoadsOregon Sport Bike Roads| Start At | Finish At | Highway(s) | Submitted by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philomath | Waldport | OR 34 | Mike Turner | see Note 1 |
| Bend | Eugene | Hwy 242 (McKenzie Pass) | Rod Carlile | see Note 2 |
| Burns | Vale | OR 20 | Mike Turner | see Note 3 |
| Enterprise, OR | Lewiston, ID | SR3 in Oregon, SR129 in Washington, US12 across the Snake River into Idaho | Jack Gustafson | Mileage: 86 Leaving Enterprise, the highway soon begins to climb into the higher elevations of the Wallowa - Whitman National Forest. Watch for deer at night! About 10 miles before the Washington line it starts to get twisty. For safety, it's best to make a run through and check for rocks and sand on the road, fallen from the bluffs that line the east side of the highway. But there are many 15 and 20 mph corners, and some ups and downs, that make it an interesting ride. The twisties continue into Washington, and there's no straight road until you're down into Idaho. This area is where the renowned Chief Joseph led his people toward Canada, hoping to escape the blue coats. Very picturesque. |
| Arlington | Long Creek | SR19, County road | Jack Gustafson | Mileage: 138 As the highway climbs away from I-84, and out of the Columbia River Valley, it enters the high desert. But it soon gets into a range of low mountains and, as is typical, starts to follow rivers and streams. Once over the low summit between Mayville and Fossil, it starts to follow one of the branches of the John Day River. If it's summer time, have your swimming gear on under your riding gear. The cool, clear water is an open invitation on a hot day. The highway winds through the small communities of Service Creek, Spray, and at Kimberly I turn off toward Monument. From Monument, across the John Day River again, and on through Hamilton over to Long Creek. This is just one of many good biking roads in that area. From Long Creek, the ride north on US395 is also good, as is the ride south. And although it's been many years since I traveled US26 from Ontario, OR west to Prineville, that's one that remains in my memory as a great ride. Maybe this summer I'll get time to ride it again. |
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1. Start city is Philomath, OR. OR34 veers sharply left just west of town and you begin to climb into the beautiful coastal mountains of Oregon. The real twisties start about 5 miles in and you will be carving and climbing through virgin and second growth forest, don't let the great views pull your eyes from the technical and sometimes beat up road. This is logging country and some amount of clear cutting is visible, look for signs telling cut and plant dates of certain areas. Pavement quality is above average for the most part but the tight stuff can throw you some surprises, the good thing is that traffic is sparse and cops almost non existent. The road opens up through pretty canyons with long sweeper turns as you begin to follow the Alsea river, an unmolested coastal stream with record runs of native steelhead and salmon. More twisties through forest and more canyon sweepers toward the coast. Stop in Tidewater, OR and visit the restaurant floating on the river. Great food and microbrews, outside seating on the river, and friendly people are there to greet the road rider here. A few more miles and you begin to sense the coastal air biting away at you. Waldport, Or. is the end of OR34 as it runs into coastal hwy 101. I like this road for its seclusion so I can go fast if I feel like opening it up and for its beauty if I decide to kick it down and look around a bit. April through October will keep you dry but it stays pretty warm most all year. Deer are a hazard along this road but mostly at dawn and dusk. Salmon and steelhead run up the river starting late October and again early spring.
I travel all over the Northwest on my '94 CB1000 and can give advise on other cool places around this road riders paradise.
3. This lonely stretch of prime pavement gives the rider an interesting look at the Northwest high desert. Many long sweepers encompassed by canyon walls carved from the Malheur river flowing roadside. Twisties and altitude changes come in the forms of Stinkingwater pass and Drinkwater pass although nothing below a posted 35 mph means you rarely need to back down from anything but squid speed. Seclusion is prevalent and cops or any traffic is rarely seen. Vale is about an hour out of Boise and Burns is about 3 hours from Bend in central Oregon. Watch for deer and grazing cows (plus road patties). Summers get hot, winters cold; late spring and early fall are best. Happy riding.
2. My starting point is Bend Oregon (as I live here), leaving Bend going west on Hwy 20, the first stop can be the little western town of Sister, OR. While it's only 22 miles away, it is still a good place to stop and stretch the morning kinks. If you are taking a wife or girl friend you may need a set of saddle bags to carry away the sale items!
Just at the west end of Sisters, you leave Hwy 20 and turn on to Hwy 242. This is the best part of the ride, you head up into the Deschutes National Forest on a twisty narrow road thought the pine and juniper trees. You will pass between Mt. Washington, Black Crater, Belknap Crater and Scott Mtn. Be sure to stop at the turn outs and read the history of the area. You will be traveling through some of the most interesting and beautiful Lava flows in the United States. The Mckenzie Pass is only open in the summer months and is well worth the wait, the pass is 5324 feet and can get cold even in the summer months, in late spring early summer watch for sand on the road. Plan for warm weather on the east side and be ready for rain on the west side going to Eugene, Oregon. You can use this road to cut between eastern and western Oregon or it makes a great day trip from Bend to Eugene, or an even better loop from Bend over Hwy 242 (The McKenzie Pass), North on Hwy 126 and back to Bend on Hwy 20. The one way trip Bend to Eugene is about 120 mile trip, with lots of interesting stopping points. BUT, a word of "WARNING". IT IS A NARROW ROAD, WITH SHARP CORNERS AND NO SERVICES OR TOWNS FOR MOST OF THE PASS ROAD (which makes it fun for bikes) and campers and cars can wander in to your lane as they look at the sites......... Hope you enjoy the ride as much as I do. Rod Carlile, Bend, Or
Updated 12/07/07 by J Knutson (ytk@sportbikeroads.com)